Drafting apparatus



Jan. 17, 1939. T. HARR|S DRAFTING APPARATU 7 Sheets-Street 1 INVENToR.

Filed Aug. 5, 1955 l 7 lu/iras /af/:zis

BY 0 ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 17, 1939. T.' HARRIS 2,143,876

I DRAFTING, .APPARATUS Filed Aug. 3, 1935 7 Sheets-:Shset 5 Jim. 17,` 1939. 7 f' l Tl HARRIS 2,1435876 I LlzyRAFTImL APPARATUS l Filed Agg. '5, 1935.Y 7 sheets-sheet 4 l lInsulin@ lll-IIJ w 'JIM IN VEN TOR. n was rf/Zs A TT ORNEYS.

' T. HARRIS DRAFTING APPARATUS Jan. 17, 1939.

Filed Aug. s, 1955" '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ff z? y Jan. 17, 1939. T. HARRIS DRAFTING APPARATUS Fild Aug. 5, 1955 '7 Sheets-.Sheet 6 INVENTOR. 770mm@ f/a/ /zzls ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 17, 1939. T. HARRIS .2,143,376 4 DRAFTING PPARATS v Filed Aug. 5j 1935 7 sheets-sheet 7 1: im l 'ml/M1612i 7750/710@ Har/j, BY-f ,n s

ATTORNEYS,

Patented Jan. 17, 1939I j y y l 'u 2,143,876'

.um'lrajnl STATES 'PATENT OFFICE Harris Textile Machinery Corporation, a corporation of Rhode 'Island Application August 3,r 1935, Serial No. 34,577

14 Claims. (Cl. 19-130) This invention relates to a drafting apparatus rolls so that no tension need exist in the work of the general character of that shown inmy as it is delivered thereto. Patents Nos. 1,922,949 and 1,922,950, dated August Another object of the invention is the avoidance 15, 1933. i Y of the necessity of skewers or spindles for mount- One of the objects of this invention is the iming the work to be delivered to the drafting ap- 5 provement in the driving means for the drafting paratus. rolls that they may be more flexible in their re- Another object of the invention is the feeding lation of rotation for draft and their revolving of the work to the drafting apparatus by a surfor causing temporary twist to be placed in the face feed to unwind the supply package of work work. so that the work may be delivered to the drafting 10 Another object of the invention is the easy rolls at a definite rate of speed in time with the adjustment of the distance between the nips .oi drawing of the work into the rolls. adjacent drafting rolls for accommodation of Another object of the invention is the location staple fibres of varying lengths. oi' the work so that it will not contact or friction l5 Another object of the invention is the simulwith any portion of the machine from its supply 15 taneous adjustment of' a plurality of the units package to its delivery to the nip of the first pair and the drives therefor throughout the length of of rolls of the drafting apparatus. j theframe, p Another object of the invention is the location Another object of the invention is the simpliof the packages in such a way that the center iication of the drive while leaving it accessible of the package Will be Substantially in line or zo for changing gears to determine the rate at which in the plane of the direction of travel of the work the different parts will rotate. through the drafting apparatus.

Anotherobject of the invention isthe arrange- Another object of the invention is the ready ment of change gears for each of the rotating accessibility of the dierent drafting units and shafts or parts in a readily accessible position for` their ready detachment from their driving means 25 easy access to setup the machine to drive the fOr replacement 0I' repair 0r change from One rolls or temporarily twist the work as desired. unit to another.

Another object of the invention is the location Another object of the invention" is the tensionof' al1 of the change gears at one end of the maing means of the rolls to apply tension independchine in a head which will be readily accessible ently of the weight of the rolls and in a sub- 30 for setting the machine to perform the desired stantially horizontal plane. work. Another object of the invention is a tension Another object -of the invention is the arrangewhich will act in substantially a single plane and ment of a packaging means so that the twist the plane of each unit for more convenience in placed in the thread at the package may. run to storage and the minimizing of space taken up by 85 the very point of nip of the last pair of rolls for any one unit enabling the units to be placed more even distribution of the twists along this closely together. extent of the thread. With these and other objects in view, the in- Another object of the invention is the location vention consists of -certain novel features of con- 40' of the packaging means in a plane which is tanstruction, as willbemore fully described, and par- 40 gent to each of the last pair of rolls at the point ticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

of nip sothat one of the rolls will in no wayin- In the accompanying drawings: j terfere with the twist or permit any fibres to ac- Fig. 1 is a sectional view lookingin the direccumulate thereon by contact therewith: i Y tion of the end of the machine;

Another object of the invention is the'adjust- Fig.2 is a fragmental view looking at the face 45 ment between the last pair of nip rolls and the `oi? the -drafting units at generally right angles to package to vary the length over which the twist their extent and omitting the work supply shown may be placed in the yarn.` in Figure 1;

Another object of the invention is theadjust- Fig. 3 is a face view of the work supply and ment of the last pair of rolls relative to the. thread fragments! portions of the machine showing the 50 guide so that the amount `and character of the transmission of the work to the guides for the ballooning which exists in the thread may be receiving rolls: nicely governed. Ii'ig.` 4 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 1 Another object of the invention is the arrange showing the drafting mechanism on an enlarged ment of the feeding of the work to the drafting scale;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a fragmental portion of one of the kcarriers for the operating mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental view of a portion of the carrier shown in Figure 5 withl the removable units in position .thereon with parts broken away to better show the operating mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the drive shown fragmentally as taken-from the general arrangement shown in Figure 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-6 of Figure 6; Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the removable unit enlarged from `the showing in any previously described figure;

Fig.- 10 is a sectional view of the structure in one position;

Fig. 11 is a fragmental sectional view showing the arrangement ofthe parts at the center of the structure shown in Figures 9 and 10;

Fig. 12 is a skeleton view of the driving gears and shafting-for operating various parts of the machine;

Fig. 13 is a. top plan view as if looking downwardly in the direction ,of the arrows on line l3|3 of Figure 12;

14 is also a skeleton drive arrangement for permitting adjustment of the various driving gears and showing their driving connection;

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of one form of ten'- sion mechanism for the rolls on the upper carrier;

Fig. 16 is a top plan view thereof; v

Fig. 1'7 is a side elevation of the tension mechanism for the rolls on the lower carrier of the machine showing a weighted construction.

'I'he general arrangement andoperatlon of .the machine may b e first generally pointed out to consist of a framework for the drafting apparatus of a length to support the desired number of spindles.l Work in the form-of vsliver is supplied to a receivingset of rolls and successively-acted upon by -additional drafting rolls until it nally emerges from the last roll in the desired size of finished thread, which is then given the required number of twists as it is packaged upon a bobbin by some suitable means such as a ring and traveler mechanism here shown. The successive rolls which nip and act upon the work may all be adjusted one relative to the other so that various spacings between the nips can be had and for convenience I adjust all of the top rolls along one side of the machineor all of the bottom rolls on one side of the machine or all of the generally horizontally aligned intermediate rolls along one side of the machine at the same f a part oii'igtheframework of a generally A-shaped yframe which supports two back-to-back drafting structures for a multiplicity of spindles or yarn ends. This framework is otaeharacter designed to 'support the drafting 'apparatus inthe arrangement desired and isl suitably strengthened byy such cross braces as 2 and other purely mechanical structures for best securing the framework desired. 'I'his -portion which'I have designated 20, although it is partof the framework of the device'. also provides a slideway 22 by reason of tion of these rolls.

its structure which is-generally T-shapedin `cross section and on whighgthelibsllpfugjgtegnlounted.thehublipf a deck Plate 56 which has 7|,

able mechanism carriers 23, 23' slidably llt. These mechanism carriers 23, 23 extend generally horizontally along the length of the machine and each comprises a support for removable work contacting roll units as well as a support for part of the shafting for the manipula- The mechanism carriers 2l, 23' are arranged one above the other in different horizontal lines and may be adjusted to different horizontal positions by racks 21 fixed on the frame and gears 26 mounted upon each shaft 28 which is suitably supported on the carrierk and extends the length thereof and which may be turned by a suitable crank at one end of the machine for moving the carriers to space the nps of the work engaging rolls different distances apart to suit the requirements of the work operated upon.

Each of these carriers 23 intermediate the top and bottom lis provided with spaced arms 36 for the reception of each of the'removable units which may be slid in along these arms and retained in place by a lock engaging the catch 31 formed by a notch in each of the arms 36 so as to hold this unit in place while the carriers 23' at the top and bottom are provided with a known arrangement of drafting rolls.

Each of the carriers 2l also rotatably supports an upper drive shaft and a lower drive shaft 3| `which are suitably driven at one end of the machine, as will presently be more fully described. At intervals along each of the shafts 36 there are located worms 33' which mesh with worm wheels 34 and which in turn engage gears in the removable unit to drive the same, while the shaft Il ^is provided with worms 33 which mesh with worm wheels 35 which in 'turn drive other mechanism in each of the removablespinning units which are mounted in the bracket.

The upper carrier 23 rotatably supports one drive shaft which is the roll shaft upon which corrugations or utes are provided at vspaced intervals and against Iwhich the removable companion roll |31 engages to provide a nip for receiving the sliver. An arm is provided on the carrier 23' which supports the conical guide ll for directing the path of travel of the work. 'I'he lower carrier 23' rotatably supports at the ends of arms 42 adrive shaft which as above explained is the roll shaft upon which corrugations or flutes are provided at spaced intervals and against which the removable companion rolls ill engage to provide a nip for delivering the sliver. The rollsoin carriers 23' do not turn about the work as a center, but may be adjusted longitudinally of the travel of the work. In the lower carrier the nip` rolls which grip the work form a point, which is adjustable to serve to govern thepointof twist and control tensioning and ballooning by reason of the location of the nip with referenceto the thread guide l5 below v...it. whereby I may provide an adjustable span or stretch-'of vihe-dzhreadin which the twists may more evenly distribute. l

Each of the removable-spinning units mounted in carriers 23 consists of a body member 50 having channels or grooves 5l' located therein to receive and slide onto arms 36. At the center o f this body member (see Figure 1l) in bearing Il a tubular member 5iis rotatably mounted and provided with a spiral gear l2 at the upper end thereof.and a spiral gear 63 at the lower end thereof, -alisof which is designed to rotate in unison. Withinthis tubular member 5I there is 56 and will revolve as the deck plate 56 is turned.

The driven or fluted roll 60 is mounted in bearings 6| while the smooth roll 62 is provided with journals 53 mounted inmovable bearings 83' and urged towards the driven roll or fluted roll 60 by some suitable tension'` means. One tension means which may be employed will later be more fully described. `The uted roll 60 is mounted upon an axle 65 which has a worm gear 51 secured thereto which meshes with the worm 50 extending at right angles to theaxis of the shaft 88 and secured on a shaft 'I0 extending through the plate 55 rwhich is providedwith a boss 09 -forming a bearing therefor. Upon the lower end of the shaft10 which extends below the plate I have provided a spiral gear 1| which meshes with the spiral gear 52 onthe member 5|. Thus when this gear 52 is driven through the .member 5| and gear 53 by the gear 35 and worm 33 on shaft 3| rotation will be imparted to the rolls so 'that they will rotate about their own axes.

The gear 5l on the edge of the -deck plate 56 will engage the gear 34 driven by the shaft 30 and will rotate in any direction which it may be desired according to the pitch of lthe worm 38' and the direction of rotation of shaft 30, whereby the rolls are revolved or turned about the work as a center. Thespeed of rotation of the rolls' about their own axes, however, while aiected by the revolving of the deck plate is independent of this revolution and may be -merely governed by the dierential gearing.

It will be understood that if the hub 5| were to remain stationary and the deck plate 56 revolved, that motion would be imparted to the rolls by reason of the rotation of gear 'il as it traveled about gear 52. The rotation of these rolls may be increased by driving the gear 52 in the opposite direction from the rotation of gear If, however, it be desired that the rolls operate in a different direction than would be caused by the relative rotation o-f gears 52 and 5l in opposite directions, it will then be obvious that it is merely necessary for me to drive the gear d2 in the same direction as the gear 5l, but at a higher rate of speed to cause the rolls to be rotated, the dierence in speed determining the speed of rotation of the rolls. Thus, there is provided a differential movement by which the speed oi` rotation of the rolls and their direction of rotation may be selected. Further, by reason of the rotation ofthe hub 5| with its gears 53 and 52 being controlled Vfrom the shaft 3|, the control of the speed of the rolls in all of the units in one line is had at theV head or one end of the machine. It will be noted that the gear 34 drives two gears 5l andthegear- 35 drives two gears 53.

In order to hold the removable unit shown in Figures 9 and 10 in position the latch 12 has an edge 'i3 of a shape toengage the catch 31 formed by a notch in the arm `36 so s to hold the member 50 in position and with the teeth of the dif ferent gears 53 and 51 in desired driving engagement with gears 34 and 35 which are mounted in eachof the brackets along` the length of the vspinning frame.

The roving or work which is fed to each of 7the groups of spinning units is mounted above them in packagev form which are rather cumbersome or large to handleby reason of the loose or fluffy nature of the roving or sliver `at this stageof processing;` and afs the work is bulky, I have vprovided three tiers of shelves, one above the other for the mounting or supporting of the work, each shelf consisting o f two tubes 8l and 8| which are rotatably mounted in suitable bearage of the work 82 to be unwrapped about the roll 82 and feed to the spinning unit at a rate at which the draft rolls can receive it and so that no tension is placed on the work or twist placed-therein. In order that the work of each tiershall not touch that of the tier below, I have caused each of these rolls 80 and 8| to be placed outwardly slightly beyond the rolls beneath it, as illustrated in Figure 1, and Valso in order to better distribute the work I have arranged for the center of `these packages 82 to be directly above the tubular guide 83 supported by an arm l from the upper carriage 23 through which guide it is fed.` l'Ihere may be just sufficient slack left between the roll 0| and the guide tube so that this slack will be taken up at certain points more than others, as it is necessary that the sliver sometimes feeds from one end and sometimes from the other end of the packages 82.

As the Work is delivered, it is directed through a thread guide 85 projecting from the guide board 88 and wound upon the bobbin 88 mounted upon spindle 81 and provided with its ring 89 in ring rail 00 having a traveler 9| all located vertically beneath the nip of rolls 02 and |50 in the lower carrier 23' on the device. The rolls 02 and |50 are in substantially a. horizontal plane and the direction of the thread 93 as it leaves these rolls is tangential to the surfaces of the rolls at the point of nip and it proceeds downwardly at right angles to a line joining the centers of the rolls to the bobbin. A certain amount of twist is placed in the yarn by the` rotation of lthe bobbin and traveler mechanism, which twist may be distributed from the traveler all the way to the point or nip between the rolls, there being insucient irictional contact at the guide t to in any way detrimentally adect the distribution of the twist.

Further, as the lower carrier 23 is adjusted, the point of nip of the rolls 92 and iil will be brought closer to or further from both the thread guide do and. the package tt so that the length in which the twist may distribute itself may be nicely governed and also the amount of ballooning and character of the ballooning whether it ybe two or three short balloons or a few longer balloons or a single balloon may be governed by its distance, all of which may affect the character and quality of the particular yarn which may be formed.

The drive for the shafts and 3| are shown largely diagrammatic in Figure l2. There is provided a gear |00 on shaft 30 and |0| on shafts 3|, which in turn are driven by gears |02 and |03 through intermediate or idlers |04 and |05 'I'he gears |00 and |0| are change gears and gears of different sizeand different number of teeth and may vary throughout a large range for varying the speeds of the shafts which they drive. The

`idlers |04 and |05 are each mounted on arms |08 and |01 which are slotted so that the gears may be adjusted about the change gears or |0| so that they will properly mesh with the gears |02 and |03 and transmitl the motion'to the gears |00 and |0| of varying sizes. -Each of the gears |02 and |03 are in turn driven by a set of spiral gears ||0 and through a shaft ||2. Each of these shafts 30 and 3| on the different carriers is similarly driven throughout the frame.

A plurality of different gears are mounted upon the same vertical shaft ||3, although these gears are of varying pitches as will be seen from the drawing in Figure 12, to impart different speeds to the gears which they drive for the group of shafts driven, as shown. One vertical shaft, H3, takes care of two sets of units, while another vertical shaft ||8 takes care of two other sets of units. The shafts ||3 and ||8 are in turn driven from shaft ||5 through bevel gears I8 and ||1. 'Ihe shaft I5' derives power from some common source which will drive the other back-to-back vspinning apparatus in the same manner.

In order to drive the supply package tubes 80 and 8| I' have arranged gears |20 and |2| o n the ends of each of shafts 80 and 8| and trained a sprocket chain |22 over these gears with adjustable idlers |23 mounted in slotted arms |24, which sprocket chain |22 engages the sprocket gear |25 on the short shaft |26 which is driven by gears |21 and |28 from shaft 4| on the carrier 23', and as the shaft 4| is adjusted, the short shaft |26 is also moved with the carrier and the idler gears |23 are moved into closer relation or further apart in the arms |24 to allow for relative'movement of this part of the apparatus with reference to the packaging means which does not move with the upper set of draft rolls.

The units in the carrier 23 which have rolls which revolve about the work as well as rotate about their own axes, have the bearing 63' of the driven roll 62 formed in a cradle support plate |30 which is pivoted at |3| and provided with abutment lips |32 beneath which springs |33 engage to swing the plate |30 about the pivots |3| land cause the bearing 63 to urge the driven roll against the fluted roll or driving roll 60 so as to provide a nip for the work.

I have provided a different tension, however, for the upper rolls which do not revolve about the work as a center and which are formed similar to the usual spinning frame rolls; that is, the spinning roll .|35 is a fluted roll, while pairs of leather rolls |36 with a reduced connecting portion |31 between them are engaged at this connecting portion by a finger |38 extending-downwardly from the body portion |38.

This body |39 is cut out as at |40 to provide a yoke-like structure and is bored as at |4| to receive a rod |42 which is rockably connected as at |43 to some suitable part of the framework |44, while its end is threaded as at |45 and provided with an abutment |46 to provide a suitable tension on spring |41. so as to urge the body |39 in the direction of the arrow |48. An eye |48 providing a suitable finger piece is formed at the end of the body |39 so that the finger |38 may be readily released for` removing the leather roll |36 fromposition. In this manner a tension is provided in a horizontal plane without resort to the weight of the roll which is customary in the prior art.

I have also provided a different tension which is employed on the lower set of rolls, neither of which sets revolves about the work as a center.

The lower set of rolls are similar to the upper set in that there is a driven uted roll |50 similar to the fluted roll in the ordinary spinning unit. The leather roll |5| is moved toward this fluted roll by a compound lever arrangement. A hookshaped member |52 engages the connection |53 between a pair of the leather rolls and is provided with an opening |54 which receives the projection |55 on the arm |58 which has an arcuate end |51 to receive the smooth or bearing portion |58 between the iiuted sections of the driven roll. At the end of the arm |56 a notch |59 is provided for the reception of a weight |60 which hangs thereon. This weight tends to swing the arm |56 down and applies tension or pull on the projection |55 and thus pulls the hook |52 to cause the leather roll to be drawn towards the fiuted roll while thrust is applied against the fluted roll lby means of the arcuate bearing |51.

In order to cover and protect the gears which are exposed, as shown in Figure 1, I have covers consisting of a cup |10 which will engage the fingers |1| on the deck plate, and by r.eans of detents |12 entering recesses |13 in thi fingers is held in place. Other enclosing covers i14 may be mounted about the gear 51 and guards-|15, and |16 for the differential gearing may also be provided.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention beingdefined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims. I claim:

l. In a drafting apparatus, a plurality of units in generally horizontal alignment and each having drafting means, and a plurality of similar units at va different horizontal alignment, all units in one line being at substantially the same horizontal level, and common horizontal shafts independent from the drafting means for driving the units` of each group in the same horizontal line to draft the yarn.

2. In a drafting apparatus, a plurality of units in each of several different planes and each having drafting means, and common shafts independent from the drafting means for driving a plurality of the units in the same plane to draft the yarn. n

3. In a drafting apparatus, a plurality of.draft units for each work end, each unit being in substantially the same plane as a corresponding unit for the next work end, and each unit having `draft rolls rotatable about their own axes and revolvable about the work as a center, a common shaft to rotate the rolls of all units in the same plane, and a second common shaft independent of the first shaft to revolve the rolls of all units in the same plane.

4. In a drafting apparatus, a plurality of units for each work end and each having a drafting means, eachunit being in substantially the same plane as a unit for the next work end, a common shaft for driving a plurality of the units in the same plane to draft the yarn, and another common shaft for driving a plurality of units in another plane, and means including change gears'at the end of the shafts for driving each of said shafts.

5. In a drafting apparatus, a plurality of groups of draft units for each work end, each unit being in substantially the same plane as a unit for the next work end, and each provided and revolvable about the work as a center, a

one plane to draftthe yarn, and another comL f mon shaft for driving a plurality of units in another plane, and means including change gears for driving each of said shafts, said change gears being all locatedl at one end ,of the apparatus. .y

'7. In a drafting apparatus, a plurality of groups of generally vertically aligned units each having drafting rollsvindependent of the next unit, and a common generally horizontal shaft for driving the rolls of one unit of each of said groups each of said units comprising a. pair of rolls being bodily removable from the common driving shaft. i

8. In a drafting apparatus, a plurality of groups of vertically aligned draft units, and a common generally horizontal shaft for driving the rolls of a unit of each of said groups to rotate the rolls thereof, and a secondcommon generally horizontal shaft for independently driving the rolls of each of said` units 'to revolven the rolls about the work as a center.

draft units for each work end, each unit being in substantially the same plane as a unit for the next work end, and each provided with draft rolls rotatable about their own axes and revolvable about the Work as a center, a common shaft to rotate the rolls of a plurality of units in the same plane, and a second common shaft to independently revolve the rolls of a plurality of units, and means for vertically adjusting the units in one plane and said shafts simultaneously.

lil. In a drafting apparatus, a plurality of pairs of draft rolls spaced horizontally, and means for engaging the surface of the work to l Y 2,143,876 with draft rolls rotatable about their own axes'` feed the work to the rst pair of rolls, the work vbeing arranged on a plurality of packages at` a plurality of levels and in different vertical planes, each package at one level overhanging the one below sufficiently to cause the work to clear the one lgielow'it.

11. In a' 'drafting apparatus, a plurality of" pairs of draft 'rolls spaced horizontally for different ends, means for engaging the surface of the work to'feed the work to the rstpair of rolls, the-work being arranged in a plurality of packages at different levels, one package disposed `with its center in substantially the plane ofthe line of draft between one of said pairs of draft rolls and others disposed with their centers in the same planes as the planes of draft ofv other draft rolls, and each overhanging -the one below it sumciently to cause the work to clear the one below it.

12. In a drafting apparatus, a plurality of draft units in a common plane for a plurality of Work vends, each unit having draft rolls rotatable about their own axes and revolvable about the work as a. center, and means including two different common shafts parallel to said common plane for differentially rotating and revolving said rolls of a plurality of said units.

13. In a drafting apparatus, a plurality of draft units in a common plane for a plurality of work ends, each unit having draft rolls rotatable about their own axes vand. revolvable about the work as a center, means including two different common shafts parallel to said common plane for differentially rotating and revolving ,y said rolls of a plurality of said units, and means 9.. In 'a drafting apparatus, a plurality of for simultaneously vertically adjusting the units ofA said plane. V

14. In a drafting apparatus, a plurality of units for each work end each having drafting' means, each unit being in substantially the same plane as a unit for the next work end but independent thereof, a common shaft for driving a plurality of the units in the same plane, each ofsaid units4 comprising a pair of rolls being bodily removable from the common driving shaft, and means for independently vertically adjusting the units in one plane simultaneously.`

THOMAS HARRIS. 

